Beer-cooler



A. D. PUFFER.

Beer Cooler No. 230,8l5. Patented Aug. 3,1880;

N.PE"ERS. PHOTO-LITHQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rricnt ALVIN D. PUFFER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BEER-COOLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 230,815, dated August 3, 1880.-

Application filed February 25, 1879. I

Cooling Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a class of apparatus for reducin g the temperature of soda-water or other liquids manufactured by myself, and shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States issued to me on the 6th day of December, 1870, and the 3d day of April, 1877, respectively, the purpose of the invention shown in the first-named patent being to economize the waste of ice used in cooling liquids; and it consists, primarily, in conductin gthe liquid to be refrigerated through a preliminary or auxiliary series or coil of pipes or cylinders situated within the ice-water which accumulates from the melting of the ice with which the primary cylinders or coolers are packed, or otherwise taking advantage of the low degree of temperature of such icewater to reduce the temperature of the sodawater or other liquid previous to its entering the primary coolers, which receive cold directly from the ice, while the invention embraced in the second-named patent consists in a new or peculiar manner of conducting ,soda water through a cooler or refrigerating apparatus, the purpose of the invention being to thoroughly and effectually carry or force the water, in its passage through a series of cooling-cylinders, against the refrigerated sides or inner surfaces of such cylinders, or to prevent the formation of a central or inner current through the body ofwater in such cylinders.

In the apparatus shown in both the abovenamed patents the liquid to be cooled flows through a series of straight cylinders the-refrigerating-surfaces of which are of small area compared with the quantity of fluid.

In my present invention I propose toretain the system of circulation shown in my patent first named, and the method of utilizing the melting of the ice and cold-air space shown in the second,the1')urpose of mypresent improvement'being to compel the liquid, in its passage through the assemblage of tubes, to take a cir cuitous course in order to expose it a considerable length of time to the cooling effects of r the ice orice-water, in contrast with the method shown in my former patents. in which the liquid found its way through the apparatus by natural laws, without being forced into certain arbitrary directions.

It is also my purpose to so arrange and construct the series'of pipes as to strengthen the structure and to put it in condition to better uphold the ice which it carries. To this end I add to the under side of each pipe of the upper series a longitudinal stiffening fin or rib, and I employ with the lower series of pipes a bridge piece extending transversely of the pipes, which rests on the door or bottom of the refrigerating-chamber, and upholds the upper pipes, whose ribs rest on the upper edge of the bridge-piece.

Heretofore it has been essential that the blocks of ice should be placed carefully upon the top of the pipes, for fear of injury to the latter. Now, in the employment of the ribs and bridge no special care need be observed in this respect, and the ice may be thrown indiscriminately into the tank containing the pipes.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Figure l, a perspective view, and in Figs. 2 and 3 horizontal sections of my invention, while Fig. 4 is a cross-section of one of the tubes and its strengthening-rib.

In these drawings, A, B, and 0 represent a cluster or assemblage of closed cylinders, arranged, by preference, in a longitudinal plane, and connected and communicating at opposite ends with the interiors of two hollow heads, D E. A second cluster of pipes is shown atF G H, and their heads at I J, as arranged below the first, and similarly constructed.

In practice the number of these clusters of pipes, or the number of pipes in each cluster, is not arbitrary, but may be increased or diminished according to circumstances; but I have shown in the present instance, and generally use, two clusters of three pipes each, as being sufficient. I

The liquid passing through the apparatus is not permitted a general unobstructed passage through the various pipes and heads, but is led through an indirect course by the following mea'ns Each head has apartition, a, between the mouths of the various pipes, and each alternate partition has a passage, 1), the arrangement of these passages, as shown in the drawin gs, bein g such that theliquid passing through the pipes is compelled to flow through one pipesay At'rom the supply-pipe ainto and supplying one liead-say Dthen into the adjacent end of the next pipe, B, through the latter into the adjacent division of the opposite or first head, D, thence return through the next or third pipe, 0, again into the end division of the head E, and flows from the latter downward into the head I of the cluster below, and. after circulatin through the pipes and heads of this clusterin manner as with the upper cluster, escaping by the outlet-pipe K of the head J. By this means the liquid is compelled to pursue acircuitous path, which subjects it for a considerable length of time to the action of the ice, and enables its temperature to be reduced to theidesired point.

Each pipe of the upper series has upon its under side a longitudinal rib or fin, as shown at b in the drawings, and the lower pipes may be similarly provided, should circumstances require, though in practice I usually omit it.

L in the accompanying drawings represents a bridge arranged transversely of the two clusters of pipes and inclosing the lower se ries, such bridge resting at bottom upon the floor of the refrigerating-chamber, or the support of the apparatus, whatever it may be, and at its upper edge receiving the ribs of the upper pipes, which rest upon it. The bridge or brace L serves to strengthen and support both the upper and lower ranges of pipes, and the number of these bridges is to be determined By the arrangement of cylinders and heads 7 as above described the liquid coursing through them is compelled to circulate equally in each, while, by directing the current of the liquid as it issues from each cylinder at right angles against the surface of the head, an ebullition or disturbance takes place, which prevents accumulation of slime within the cylinders.

As the cylinders are disposed in a common horizontal plane, they are equally exposed to the refrigerating action of the ice-water.

I claim- The series of pipes and their connected and intercommunicating heads, in combination with the intermediate transverse bridge, L, the upper series of pipes being formed or provided with longitudinal stiffening ribs orfins, which rest and take their bearing on said bridge, as herein shown and set forth.

A. D. PUFFER.

Witnesses F. CURTIS, LOUIS A. OURTIs. 

